Germany,Netherlands win in Euro 2012 qualifier

Germany eased past visiting Turkey 3-0,while Netherlands bested a full strength Italy.

Germany and the Netherlands continued strong starts to qualifying for the 2012 European Championship with victories,while Italy’s rebuilding continued with a disappointing draw.

Germany eased past visiting Turkey 3-0 and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar hit his sixth goal in qualifying yesterday to give the injury-hit Netherlands a 1-0 victory over Moldova and top spot in Group E

But a near full-strength Italy team missed several chances to draw 0-0 at Northern Ireland.

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Italy kept top spot in Group C but it still has much work to

do at both ends of the field following its dismal first-round exit from this year’s World Cup. World and European champion Spain was hosting Lithuania,while ailing Portugal was up against Denmark.

Miroslav Klose scored twice and Mesut Oezil once to lift Germany three points clear at the top of Group A.

Germany initially struggled to open up a well-organized opponent at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium but Klose broke the stalemate in the 42nd with a rebound after Thomas Mueller’s shot had hit the crossbar.

Oezil,a midfielder of Turkish heritage who was jeered throughout by visiting fans,scored a powerful shot in the 79th and Klose wrapped up the win with three minutes left following an error by the Turkey goalkeeper. Germany has a maximum nine points,with Austria,which beat Azerbaijan 3-0 and Turkey tied on six.

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Rafael van der Vaart set up Huntelaar’s 37th-minute goal with a quick pass through the defense as the Dutch made it three wins from three qualifiers despite the absence of Robin van Persie,Arjen Robben,Theo Janssen,Eljero Elia,Hedwiges Maduro and Vurnon Anita.

“The first half went very well,” Van der Vaart said. “It was a shame we didn’t take more of our chances to make life easier.”

Hungary’s 8-0 win over San Marino was the biggest by any side so far in qualifying but was still some way short of Hungary’s national record — a 13-1 win over France in 1927 and enough only for third place in the Group E.

The Netherlands has nine points,three more than Sweden and Hungary.

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Italy struggled against an obdurate Northern Ireland defense in Belfast but Giampolo Pazzini missed a chance with four minutes left when he headed across goal. Fellow substitute Giuseppi Rossi collected the ball at the far post but could only put it into the side netting.